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Funding and grant opportunities
NSW Tech Vouchers
TechVouchers support opportunities for research collaboration between NSW small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and BBIP delivery partners, such as UOW. The program promotes and demonstrates to SMEs the opportunities available from collaborating with, or using the services of UOW.
The program is always open, and applications can begin after a discussion with UOW’s Industry and Innovation team.
TechVoucher projects must include a Project Lead from a Delivery Partner (UOW) and an eligible SME.
Eligible SMEs must:
- have less than 200 employees
- have an Australian business number (ABN) registered in NSW
- be based in NSW
- not be owned, employ, or have any financial ties of any kind with any of the proposed researchers for the project
- have the rights to commercialise their products or services and/or do not infringe on existing protected IP
- demonstrate adequate matched funding.
TechVoucher projects will undergo an internal assessment process prior to being submitted for funding. Projects must:
- Be Ready: start within 3 months of submission to Investment NSW.
- Be 12 months maximum in projected duration.
- Demonstrate active collaboration between the SME and Delivery Partner. For example, contract research, collaborative research, use of research equipment, facilities, and co-location, or faculty secondment of a researcher to the SME for a set amount of time.
- Have defined commercialisation outcome. For example, development of an innovative product or service with demonstrated TRL progression, solving a technical problem leading to TRL progression, improving business internal R&D, improving the business model or commercial processes, improving understanding of complex markets and strategic fit.
The program is always open, and applications can begin after a discussion with UOW’s Industry and Innovation team. The UOW TechVoucher process is led by iAccelerate in collaboration with UOW Teams ICRU, FROU, CCU and ACD.
- Initial questions regarding the opportunity should be directed to icr-enquiry@uow.edu.au
Australian Economic Accelerator
AEA Ignite grants support early-stage research commercialisation through competitive grants of up to $500,000 for a maximum period of 12 months. These grants are available for researchers at Australian universities to complete basic research, laboratory testing and establish proof-of-concept in an industry-relevant environment. Proving proof-of-concept happens after completion of basic research and testing. It’s where research is put it to the test in an environment that closely resembles the conditions that will be encountered with industry.
AEA Innovate Grants support mid-stage research commercialisation through competitive grants of up to $5 million for a maximum period of 24 months. These grants are available for researchers at Australian universities to collaborate with industry to advance projects that already have laboratory proof-of-concept.
- Grants are awarded through a competitive process that focusses on projects with research translation and commercial potential that is aligned with Australian Government identified priority areas of the economy, outlined in the . Projects must that align with AEA Focus Areas (announced each round) will be prioritised.
- Must be a university or university college applicant as a Lead Entrepreneur. Should ideally have a commercialisation partner (Partner Organisation).
- Ignite applications must have a minimum contribution of 10% of the total budget in cash and/or in-kind support from any partner organisation.
- Innovate applications must have a minimum contribution of 50% of the total budget in cash and/or in-kind support from the combined participating organisations.
AEA Ignite Grant recipients are expected to be able to increase the technology and commercial readiness of their innovation to reach proof-of-concept. This includes developing and testing prototypes or pilots for new products, processes or software in an industry-relevant environment. It is about demonstrating that what has been developed during the research phase can now be implemented successfully in a real-world scenario.
AEA Innovate Grant recipients are expected to be able to increase the technology and commercial readiness of their innovation to reach proof-of-scale. This includes developing and testing prototypes or pilots for new products, processes or software in an industry-relevant environment. It is about demonstrating that what has been developed during the research phase can now be implemented successfully in a real-world scenario on a commercial or industrial scale.
Rounds open annually for both AEA Ignite and AEA Innovate Grants. UOW applicants are encouraged to submit an EOI to UOW’s Industry and Innovation team, to ensure applicants are appropriately supported.
- Initial questions regarding this opportunity should be directed to icr-enquiry@uow.edu.au
NHMRC development grants
NHMRC Development Grants aim to increase the rates of translation of health and medical research into commercial outcomes through partnerships between research institutes and businesses. The objectives of the Development Grant scheme are to expedite the translation of health and medical research outcomes through to commercialisation within a foreseeable timeframe by supporting proof-of-concept research with a feasible commercialisation pathway and a high likelihood of producing protected IP.
The objectives of the Development Grant scheme are:
- to expedite the translation of health and medical research outcomes through to commercialisation, within a foreseeable timeframe
- to support proof-of-concept research with a feasible commercialisation pathway and a high likelihood of producing protected IP
- to provide a potential mechanism through which research outcomes can be progressed to a stage that makes them competitive to receive industry investment through other government schemes or from the private sector, and
- to encourage collaboration between health research, the private sector and industry (domestic and international)
The intended outcomes of the Development Grant scheme are:
- increased rates of translation of health and medical research into commercial outcomes, resulting in improved health and medical knowledge
ARC Linkage Projects
The Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Linkage Projects scheme promotes national and international research partnerships between researchers and business, industry, community organisations and other publicly funded research agencies. The Linkage Projects scheme provides project funding of between $50,000 to $300,000 per year for 2 to 5 years. Applications for funding under the Linkage projects scheme must include at least one Partner Organisation. The Partner Organisations must make a significant contribution in cash and/or in kind such that the combined Partner Organisation(s) eligible contributions are equal to or greater than the ARC funding.
The applying research entity must have a Partner Organisation who is making a significant contribution in cash and/or in kind such that the combined Partner Organisation contribution are equal to or greater than the ARC funding.
The Linkage Projects scheme supports projects which initiate or develop long term strategic research alliances to apply advanced knowledge to problems, acquire new knowledge and as a basis for securing commercial and other benefits of research.
The objectives of the Linkage Projects scheme are to:
- support internationally competitive research projects and teams on challenges or opportunities of relevance to research end-users
- foster the establishment and strengthening of research alliances between higher education organisations and research end-users
- enhance the scale and focus of research, including in Australian Government priority areas.
The intended outcomes of the Linkage Projects scheme are:
- new or strengthened collaborations and research alliances between universities and research end-users
- new knowledge that is of benefit to Australian research end-users, including in Australian Government priority areas
economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia.
TechVoucher success stories
UOW has collaborated with local businesses on many TechVoucher projects. These stories show how UOW researchers are helping local businesses create innovative solutions.
Success stories